Photo by: Daniel Boye
Summers Named to FCS Jerry Rice Award Watch List
10/22/2025 11:29:00 AM | Football
Mitchell Summers joins SHU greats on Jerry Rice Award Watch List
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – First-year running back Mitchell Summers of the Sacred Heart University football team has been named to the 2025 FCS Jerry Rice Award Watch List, which honors the FCS freshman player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
Summers is one of 22 players named to the award's annual watch list. The Rice Award, celebrating its 15thanniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State University. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward, and Shedeur Sanders.
Summers joins an elite group of former Pioneers to earn national recognition, following in the footsteps of Tyrese Chambers (WR), Julius Chestnut (RB), and RJ Noel (QB), who were each named to the national watch list during their careers at SHU.
Through his freshman campaign, Summers has quickly become a key piece of the Pioneers' offense, leading the ground game with impressive production. The Greensboro, N.C. native has rushed for over 700 yards and six touchdowns on the season, highlighted by a career-best 243-yard, two-touchdown performance against Howard that earned him Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week honors. He's recorded multiple 100-yard games, including strong outings versus LIU and Norfolk State, and has also contributed as a receiver with over 100 yards through the air.
The 2025 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also to be presented are the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The 22 players nominated to the watch list, listed alphabetically by last name:
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, QB, 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
Trevor Barry, New Hampshire, LB, 6-1, 222 (CAA Football)
Rico Bond, Lindenwood, 6-1, 177 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Cason Carswell, Western Illinois, QB, 6-3, 190 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Landen Clark, Elon, QB, 6-0, 186 (CAA Football)
EJ Colson, UIW, QB, 6-1, 190 (Southland Conference)
Brooks Davis, Montana, WR, 6-0, 174 (Big Sky Conference)
Xai'Shaun Edwards, Houston Christian, RB, 5-9, 195 (Southland Conference)
Eric Handley, Alabama A&M, QB, 6-2, 200 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Chase Hatton, Marist, S, 5-11, 208 (Pioneer Football League)
Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV, LB, 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
Jack Hennessey, Central Connecticut State, PK, 5-10, 190 (NEC Football)
Andrew Indorf, Towson, QB, 6-1, 195 (CAA Football)
Evan James, Furman, WR, 5-11, 170 (Southern Conference)
Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth, DE, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford, DB, 5-11, 175 (Southern Conference)
Tre Page III, Tarleton State, RB, 5-9, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Caden Pinnick, UC Davis, QB, 6-0, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
Josh Robinson, Princeton, WR, 5-7, 165 (Ivy League)
Montreze Smith Jr., Austin Peay, LB, 5-11, 204 (United Athletic Conference)
Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart, RB, 5-7, 155 (FCS Independent)
Owen Sweeney, VMI, WR, 6-4, 200 (Southern Conference)
Summers is one of 22 players named to the award's annual watch list. The Rice Award, celebrating its 15thanniversary season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, who starred in the FCS at Mississippi Valley State University. Past recipients include Cooper Kupp, Chase Edmonds, Trey Lance, Cam Ward, and Shedeur Sanders.
Summers joins an elite group of former Pioneers to earn national recognition, following in the footsteps of Tyrese Chambers (WR), Julius Chestnut (RB), and RJ Noel (QB), who were each named to the national watch list during their careers at SHU.
Through his freshman campaign, Summers has quickly become a key piece of the Pioneers' offense, leading the ground game with impressive production. The Greensboro, N.C. native has rushed for over 700 yards and six touchdowns on the season, highlighted by a career-best 243-yard, two-touchdown performance against Howard that earned him Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week honors. He's recorded multiple 100-yard games, including strong outings versus LIU and Norfolk State, and has also contributed as a receiver with over 100 yards through the air.
The 2025 Jerry Rice Award recipient will be announced on Dec. 3 and honored at the Stats Perform National Awards Show on Jan. 3 in Nashville, Tennessee. Also to be presented are the Walter Payton Award (FCS Offensive Player of the Year), Buck Buchanan Award (FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS Coach of the Year), HBCU National Player of the Year and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The 22 players nominated to the watch list, listed alphabetically by last name:
Braden Atkinson, Mercer, QB, 6-1, 215 (Southern Conference)
Trevor Barry, New Hampshire, LB, 6-1, 222 (CAA Football)
Rico Bond, Lindenwood, 6-1, 177 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Cason Carswell, Western Illinois, QB, 6-3, 190 (OVC-Big South Football Association)
Landen Clark, Elon, QB, 6-0, 186 (CAA Football)
EJ Colson, UIW, QB, 6-1, 190 (Southland Conference)
Brooks Davis, Montana, WR, 6-0, 174 (Big Sky Conference)
Xai'Shaun Edwards, Houston Christian, RB, 5-9, 195 (Southland Conference)
Eric Handley, Alabama A&M, QB, 6-2, 200 (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
Chase Hatton, Marist, S, 5-11, 208 (Pioneer Football League)
Jaiden Haygood, UTRGV, LB, 6-0, 215 (Southland Conference)
Jack Hennessey, Central Connecticut State, PK, 5-10, 190 (NEC Football)
Andrew Indorf, Towson, QB, 6-1, 195 (CAA Football)
Evan James, Furman, WR, 5-11, 170 (Southern Conference)
Lamont Lester Jr., Monmouth, DE, 6-2, 230 (CAA Football)
Darius Malcolm Jr., Wofford, DB, 5-11, 175 (Southern Conference)
Tre Page III, Tarleton State, RB, 5-9, 180 (United Athletic Conference)
Caden Pinnick, UC Davis, QB, 6-0, 200 (Big Sky Conference)
Josh Robinson, Princeton, WR, 5-7, 165 (Ivy League)
Montreze Smith Jr., Austin Peay, LB, 5-11, 204 (United Athletic Conference)
Mitchell Summers, Sacred Heart, RB, 5-7, 155 (FCS Independent)
Owen Sweeney, VMI, WR, 6-4, 200 (Southern Conference)
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballInside the Huddle: Week Eleven
Thursday, November 13
Inside the Huddle: Week Ten
Friday, November 07
Inside the Huddle: Week Seven
Friday, October 10
Inside the Huddle: Week Five
Friday, September 26
